The tongue is a glorious part of the body. It is impressive all of the different types of tastes the taste buds on it can distinguish. The tongue works with the nose to bring us flavor experience. And just like it is harder to taste with a clogged nose it is harder to taste with impaired taste buds. Keeping the tongue clean is a part of keeping the mouth clean. Another benefit of that is heightened taste.

The Power of the Tongue Scraper

I use a tongue scraper in a couple of ways. First I use it in the morning before brushing my teeth. I found I really benefit from an ayurvedic based ritual in the morning of which tongue scraping is a part*. Apparently tongue scraping can clear out nasty bacteria, stimulate organs, limit the tarter on teeth and do away with the parts of your midnight snack still hanging out on your tongue (gross).

I also use my tongue scraper before having a cup of tea. Though flavor preferences are individual there are some flavors less likely to pair well (ever have a glass of orange juice after brushing your teeth with a mint toothpaste? Gag!) The tongue scraper can clear out the nasties and lingering flavor from previous food/beverage that can impair the taste buds’ ability to taste whatever is being consumed in the moment. It is amazing how a few gentle passes of a tongue scraper can open up flavor experience**. Try it sometime in the afternoon. Make yourself a cup of tea. Taste it before tongue scraping and then after and notice the difference. Just make sure to be gentle with the scraping and rinse the scraper after each pass. You’re not looking to sandblast your taste buds but rather uncover them.

There are many options for the tongue scraper from the basic plastic to stainless steel to metals that are believed to give additional health benefit like copper, gold and silver.

I encourage you to give the tongue scraper a try to enhance your tea drinking experience!